Led by her brother, a team — and a town — tries to return to normal in aftermath of Mollie Tibbetts' death

The Brooklyn community gathered Friday night to watch their football team defeat Lisbon in what some hope is a step toward healing for the town.
Brian Powers, bpowers@dmreg.com

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Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, ends a chant with the rest of the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team after they defeated Lisbon 35-24 during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)Buy Photo

LISBON, Ia. — You had to look closely during Friday night’s football game to find any mention of Mollie Tibbetts.

High on the right side of the white jerseys worn by 36 players representing Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom High School, there was a teal set of wings with the initials “MT.” They’ll be there all season, along with the grief of a community coping with the unspeakable.

Coach Jerod Burns wants his team, and especially his quarterback, to be able to escape all of that for at least one night a week. So the word went out Wednesday to the folks in Lisbon: Thank you for thinking of us, but please don’t make any public display about our loss.

Lisbon listened. There were no signs about Mollie Tibbetts at Walmer Field. No moment of silence in her honor. No mention of her over the loudspeakers.

“We talked about the way that Mollie lived her life,” Burns said of a private moment with his team before kickoff. “She was a hard worker and she lived with no regrets. That’s the way we told the kids to play tonight, is just leave it on the field, and life’s too short to do anything half-heartedly.”

Younger brother decides to play

Burns got the word late Thursday via text that his senior starting quarterback intended to play in the season opener. No one would have blamed Scott Tibbetts, Mollie’s younger brother, for sitting this one out.

He had returned to practice Thursday, but “his head wasn’t really in it,” Burns said. That’s been a common issue with his players since practices began Aug. 6. It was the most trying preseason of his 14 years as head coach at BGM.

Tibbetts donned his No. 4 uniform and walked two-by-two with his teammates down a slope from Lisbon High School to the field an hour before kickoff Friday. Each duo held hands. Tibbetts was paired with classmate Kyle Cadden.

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Scott Tibbetts, left, warms up with his teammate's including Cam Loschen, right, before the B-G-M football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Despite that Scott lead his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns himself, in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

Head coach Jared Burns talks to his quarterback Scott Tibbetts before the B-G-M football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Burns said he told Tibbetts for the next two hours he was the leader of the team and to focus on that. Tibbett's sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, motions to the sky after throwing a touchdown pass during the the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team's game against Lisbon on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. BGM would go on to win 35-24. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, puts on his helmet before taking the field with the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team as they take on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. BGM would go on to win 35-24. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, looks for a pass as the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. BGM would go on to win 35-24. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts mother, Laura Calderwood, right, claps in the stands as she watches her son lead the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' daughter Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Despite that Scott lead his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns himself, in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

Jake Tibbetts, middle, watches his younger brother Scott Tibbetts, lead the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Despite that Scott lead his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns himself, in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

B-G-M fans watch as their football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Brooklyn resident Mollie Tibbetts went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. B-G-M would go on to win 35-24 in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, is tackled in the end zone for a rushing touchdown as the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. BGM would go on to win 35-24. Brian Powers/The Register

A sticker with the initials "MCT" are seen on the back of the B-G-M football teams helmets before they take on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. The stickers are in honor of Mollie Tibbetts who went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Brian Powers/The Register

Lead by Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, ends a chant with the rest of the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team after they defeated Lisbon 35-24 during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, is swarmed by his teammates after a touchdown as the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. BGM would go on to win 35-24. Brian Powers/The Register

A sticker with the initials "MCT" are seen on the bill of a baseball hat as they take on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. The stickers are in honor of Mollie Tibbetts who went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, left, warms up with his teammate's before the B-G-M football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Despite that Scott lead his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns himself, in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts mother, Laura Calderwood, right, laughs in the stands as she watches her son lead the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' daughter Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Despite that Scott lead his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns himself, in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

Lead by Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team defeated Lisbon 35-24 during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts helps a teammate stretch before the B-G-M football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Despite that Scott lead his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns himself, in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

B-G-M fans watch as their football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Brooklyn resident Mollie Tibbetts went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. B-G-M would go on to win 35-24 in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

B-G-M fans watch as their football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Brooklyn resident Mollie Tibbetts went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. B-G-M would go on to win 35-24 in week one of Iowa high school football. Brian Powers/The Register

The Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team wanted Friday nights season opener against Lisbon to be as normal as possible. Tiny blue ribbons were passed out to fans in memory of Mollie Tibbetts on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, right, gets a hug from his father Rob as older brother Jake Tibbetts, far left, looks, after leading B-G-M to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Brian Powers/The Register

Scott Tibbetts, right, talks to friends on the field after leading B-G-M to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister Mollie went missing on July 18, her body was found August 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Brian Powers/The Register

And then the Bears let loose. They whooped and hollered throughout warmups, just another group of boys excited to get ready for a game.

While his team did calisthenics, Burns walked over to Tibbetts and pulled his face near.

“You’ve got two hours here where you can focus on something else,” Burns told his quarterback. “This is your football team. You’ve got to lead it. There’s nobody else that can.”

Quarterback is on the money early

BGM won the coin toss and wanted the football first. Tibbetts jogged onto the field and slapped his teammates’ helmets in the huddle.

On the second play, three Lisbon Lions came around the right end unblocked and leveled Tibbetts. Somehow, he held onto the football.

His first completed pass came on a fourth-and-4 play inside Lisbon territory. It picked up six yards. The Bears eventually scored on a Noah Beck 15-yard run.

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Scott Tibbetts' mother, Laura Calderwood, right, claps in the stands as she watches her son lead the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon. Tibbetts' daughter, Mollie, went missing on July 18. Her body was found Aug. 21 in a field outside Guernsey. Scott Tibbetts led his team to a 35-24 victory over Lisbon, scoring three touchdowns.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

On the BGM sideline, about 200 fans plus the players and cheerleaders, pulsated.

Tibbetts next threw a perfectly delivered 50-yard touchdown pass to Devon Maxfield down the left sideline. Then he ran through the middle of his line for a 9-yard score.

BGM built a 28-6 lead early in the second quarter. But the momentum stalled.

A summer of somber practices

At halftime, Burns could feel he was talking to a group of athletes that wasn't really listening.

This is how it’s been.

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A sticker with the initials "MCT" is seen on the back of the B-G-M football team's helmets before the team took on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon. The stickers are in honor of Mollie Tibbetts, who went missing on July 18. Her body was found Aug. 21 in a field outside Guernsey.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

“More than the football part of it and winning and losing games, we’re worried about helping our kids through this situation and giving them something solid that they can rely on,” he said.

“They’re thinking about it all the time.”

On Wednesday, Lisbon activities director Eric Ries reached out to BGM for some guidance. He said many sympathetic people in his community wanted to commemorate Mollie Tibbetts’ life at the football game. But how?

The answer: We'd rather you didn't.

Ries promptly sent out an email to parents in his school district, asking them to “make Friday night as normal as humanly possible.”

“Once they understood and thought about what it’s like being on the other side of that, people in Lisbon have been very gracious,” Ries said Thursday. “They realize, ‘Hey, it would make us feel better but it may not make them feel better because it’s just a constant reminder.’ ”

Meanwhile, spirits picked up a little at BGM’s Wednesday football practice. The players had more pep, even though Tibbetts remained away that day.

Assistant coach Rick Radcliffe, who is also the school’s principal, said to his linemen at one point: “We did not have a very good practice yesterday, did we? Today, our heads are clear. We’re going.”

And they did. For the most part. The energy waned a bit in the latter stages of the 2½-hour session.

At the end of the day, Burns gathered his players and spoke about the importance of setting good study habits with school starting the next day.

He shouted: “Winners or losers?” and got a prompt reply of “Winners!” from his team.

This is a routine for the Bears. And Radcliffe said the goal from here on out is getting back to that sense of normalcy as quickly as possible — for his players and his school.

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B-G-M fans watch as their football team takes on Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon. Brooklyn resident Mollie Tibbetts went missing on July 18. Her body was found Aug. 21 in a field outside Guernsey. B-G-M would go on to win 35-24.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

A victory, and some healing?

The second half of Friday’s game was a much tighter affair. Lisbon broke loose for a long kickoff return and turned that into a touchdown. A blocked punt resulted in another score. BGM's lead was down to 28-18 in the third quarter, and the strain was evident on that side of the field.

Special teams will remain a big focus of next week’s practices, Burns said afterward.

Beck responded with a kick-return touchdown of his own, and BGM held on for a 35-24 victory. Tibbetts helped seal that by recovering a late onside kick attempt, falling to the grass and cradling the football in his midsection.

As time expired, he raced down the Lisbon sideline in jubilation and then headed to midfield, the first one in the handshake line.

After the game, BGM fans gathered for hugs and photos, lingering a long time. The talk was all football. Scott Tibbetts’ older brother, Jake, who watched the game quietly from the south end zone, joined in. He too played for Burns as a lineman on teams good enough to reach the UNI-Dome for the Class A title game.

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Jake Tibbetts, middle, watches his younger brother, Scott Tibbetts, lead the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon. Their sister, Mollie, went missing on July 18. Her body was found Aug. 21 in a field outside Guernsey.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

“He’s a really passionate kid,” Burns said of Jake Tibbetts, who coaches baseball at his alma mater. “He loves to work with the young people.”

Neither Tibbetts brother was ready yet to talk to the media about the loss of their sister. They politely declined interview requests Friday.

Burns spoke for the family. And the team. Mollie Tibbetts’ funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.

“With everything we’ve had going on the last two months, for their heads to even be in the state of mind where they could come out here and play, I was pretty proud of them for that,” he said.

“If this football team can help this community heal from this situation, God bless this team, I guess.”

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Scott Tibbetts, right, talks to friends on the field after leading B-G-M to a 35-24 win over Lisbon during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon. Tibbetts' sister, Mollie, went missing on July 18. Her body was found Aug. 21 in a field outside Guernsey.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

Friday’s kickoff was pushed ahead an hour to 6 p.m. because of weather concerns. Heavy rain was expected to move into the Lisbon area around 7.

Instead, the clouds drifted apart right after Tibbetts threw a second touchdown pass, this one a 60-yarder to Maxfield, who was uncovered over the middle. That was the one that made the score 28-6 and resulted in Tibbetts hopping back to his sideline with a carefree grin.

As BGM kicked off afterward, one Bear nudged a teammate.

“Hey,” he said, gesturing to the blue sky. “I thought it was supposed to rain all night.”

They both glanced up, then turned their attention back to the field.

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Led by Scott Tibbetts, brother of Mollie Tibbetts, the Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom football team defeated Lisbon 35-24 during the first week of high school football in Iowa on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Lisbon.(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)